Abstract

DD CEN/TS 15945:2011 Packaging. Ease of opening. Criteria and test methods for evaluating consumer packaging
DD CEN/TS 15945 is a Technical Specification which specifies the following for all adult consumers:
Criteria for ease of opening of packages;
Methods for evaluating the ease of opening of consumer packages.
The purpose of DD CEN/TS 15945 is to specify test methods to evaluate the ease of opening of consumer packages, in order to improve easy access to the contents. For packages regulated for safety or similar reasons, e.g. packaging of dangerous goods and substances, medicinal products, and medical devices, those regulations take precedence.
DD CEN/TS 15945 applies to all packaging that does not require an opening tool and to packaging that is purchased with an integrated opening tool.
Ease of opening is an important factor when designing consumer packaging, as it is important that consumers of all ages, and of both genders, should be able to access the contents of the package. Consumers may ultimately avoid the purchase of a particular type of packaging which has proved consistently to be difficult to open. It is recognised that there is a difference in strength on average between male and female consumers.
Knowing that strength in the hands reduces with age, a panel test method that focuses on elderly consumers, with less than the average hand strength, can help to gain a new perspective on the ease of opening of packaging. Packaging that is easy to open for elderly consumers will, in most cases, be easy for the average consumer to open. It is recognised that there will be consumers with extreme impairment that this specification cannot represent.
To present valid mechanical test methods for the wide range of packaging present on the market today is not possible in this specification at this time. A test protocol inspired by the principles described in the ISO 20282 series of standards is therefore used in Annex A. However, it should be noted that mechanical testing and sensory test by trained panel are useful tools when developing easy to open packaging or for quality control.
We recommend the generation of mechanical data to allow the introduction of new methods, as a means of demonstrating compliance with this specification.